Movie review - "Red Dog" (2011) ***** (warning: spoilers)

Why can't we make more Aussie films like this - plenty of good photography and stunning landscapes but few have this good a heart, egalitarian ethos and warmth. It's not perfect - I wasn't wild about the framing device, which occasionally went for gag over truth - and it didn't seem right they were all having this party remembering the dog when the dog wasn't even dead and in fact was dying in the next room (when he walks away at the end he might be just wanting to get some peace and quiet). And Rachel Taylor hooking up with Luke Ford in this felt like it slightly cheapened her feelings for Josh Lucas (I know a deal of time had passed in "film time" but watching it seemed too quick.)

Also it could have done with a touch more sense of community - it's all there, just sometimes it felt "pasted on" as opposed to organic. But there's nothing quite like a dog devoted to his master, waiting a la Greyfriars Bobby then searching all over the country to find him - and collapsing on his grave. A dog outliving his master- it's just not right. It's a pleasant change to see a film that's pro-union, pro-friendship, pro-dog. Very old school Aussie (which means that ethnics are okay as long as they're comic).

Movie review - "The Intruders" (1969) **

They should have been able to make a decent movie from Skippy but this just like an episode of the TV show and not a very good one - some smugglers are at work in Malacoota, but the Hammonds get involved because Waratah National Park is a long way from there. Sonny and Clancy wind up kidnapped by the baddies who talk on themselves and Skippy hardly does anything. Come to think of it, neither does Ed Devereaux, Tony Bonner, or any of the others - most of the running time is spent with the criminals.

It looks impressive in the way that most Australian films of the 1960s did - colourful and clean, with some gorgeous blue seas. But Lee Robinson, for all his considerable talents as a producer and documentary filmmaker, was never that good directing drama and by this stage he hadn't improved.

Movie review - "The Change Up" (2011) **1/2

Some very talented, likeable stars and hilarious lines but too much of it is false - Jason Bateman surely wouldn't risk his legal career and ditto Ryan Reynolds his acting career to prove themselves. Olivia Wilde is stunning and her body double has a nice arse but she's not convincing as a girl who secretly likes baseball and beer and is just a regular guy. It might have been better if the two leads weren't good friends but rather enemies. It whimps out too - as if Bateman isn't going to have sex with Wilde when he has the chance.

Movie review – “Moneyball” (2011) ***1/2

Some divine casting - the faces of the scouts look so real - and wonderful detail but so much of the excitement is sucked out of the script, scenes are dragged on too long, it skips over the real heart of it (giving players no longer regarded as top rate a second chance). The story is interesting, it makes you think and play fantasy team additions in your head while watching. There were a bunch of versions of the script - I read an Aaron Sorkin draft which included a wife for Brad Pitt's character and a lot more life and energy.

Script review - "Platoon" by Oliver Stone

George MacDonald Fraser pointed out that this film shows why American lost Vietnam - they didn't have an army. Squabbling amongst themselves, whacked out on drugs, ill disciplined, cowardly, stupid, poor strategy... it's depressing to think a war was fought that way. Barnes spends most of his time tormenting fellow soldiers, Chris has battle success going nuts with a gun, even Elias the "good soldier" (homoerotically described by Stone - in the script he's an India) is stoned most of the time and leading a drug taking ring. There is not one good soldier in the whole script except for maybe the captain. Powerful and moving and terrifying. No love letter to the Vietnamese either, who wail, shoot and torture.

Movie review - "Anvil" (2009) ****

Breathtakingly good doco about a real life Spinal Tap - a heavy metal band that never quite made it but kept going on through the bromance of it's two key creatives and their never ending dreams. Unbearably touching in its depiction of friendship, the loyalty of fans (who turn up no matter what), principles (a musician can't sell on the phone), the love of family (a sister pays money for an album), the lies and conman-ship of the industry,the dreams of all (including the wives). Beautiful.

Movie review - "Super 8" (2011) ***1/2

Charming sci fi which reminded me of the days making Super 8 films growing up - it captures the excitement, formalities, bickering, jealousies, challenges etc - including a sweet semi romance with a young girl. Like many sci fi films it's on the side of the aliens rather than the government and there is too much special effects and explosions at the end.